In an interview yesterday with ePolitix.com, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, Angela Browning, attacked the bias prevalent in Tory selection committees.

She told ePolitix.com that the people involved were often "prejudiced" and "unprofessional", with no idea of how to interview people and that they harboured outdated views that meant they were looking for a candidate who was "usually male, with a nice wife and photogenic children".